Developer(s) EA Canada Platform(s) PlayStation 2GameCube | Publisher(s) EA Sports BIG Genre(s) Sports | |
Release PlayStation 2NA: June 18, 2001EU: June 18, 2001JP: August 23, 2001GameCubeNA: February 17, 2002JP: March 22, 2002 Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer | ||
NBA Street is a basketball video game developed by EA Canada and was released in 2001 for the PlayStation 2 and in 2002 for the GameCube. It combines the talent and big names of the National Basketball Association with the attitude and atmosphere of streetball. NBA Street is the first game in the NBA Street series and was followed by NBA Street Vol. 2, NBA Street V3, NBA Street Homecourt and NBA Street Online.
Contents
Gameplay
NBA Street consists of three-on-three basketball games. Aside from the basic structure of basketball, players try to collect trick points, which are scored through the use of almost every basketball game maneuver such as faking out defenders, shot blocking, diving for the ball, and dunking. If a team fills a special meter through flashy and effective gameplay, they get to perform a Gamebreaker, which is a special shot that not only adds to their score, but it subtracts an amount from their opponents' score.
Single player options included a user-created player touring famous American locations, picking up teammates from NBA rosters along the way.
The gameplay could be considered an "arcade" style of basketball in that it is not a true simulation, similar to the NBA Jam series. For instance, in-game players are able to jump high enough to grab three-point shots mid-arc (goaltending is permitted and is often used as a defensive strategy). Games are scored not by traditional standards, as two-point field goals are worth one point, while made shots behind the 3-point line are worth two. Instead of a time limit, the first team to score 21 points are deemed the winner. However, the winner must win by 2.
Cast and characters
29 NBA teams are playable, with rosters from around 2000 and 2001. However, only 5 players are available from each team. Michael Jordan, who announced his comeback from his second retirement with the Washington Wizards a few months after the PlayStation 2 release, is available on both the Gamecube and PlayStation 2 versions. He was however removed as the "Final Challenge" in the Gamecube version as he now played for the Washington Wizards in the game. Instead, the City Circuit ended once a player beat the Street Legend "Stretch".
The game introduced several recurring characters called Street Legends, fictional basketball players who served as the series' bosses, each masterful in a particular aspect of basketball and representing a specific area of the United States. Their personalities and appearances were loosely inspired by real players, such as Stretch, the "cover athlete" who resembled Julius Erving in looks and abilities.
The Street Legends are, in order, Biggs, Bonafide, Drake, DJ, Takashi, and Stretch.
Commentator Joe "The Show" Jackson is voiced by Bob Elliott.
Rosters
Team rosters are from the 2000–01 NBA season, and are accurate as of March 5, 2001. (The GameCube version of the game has updated rosters from the 2001–02 season).
Despite the PlayStation 2 version of the game having rosters from the 2000–2001 season, the Mavericks and Pistons already had the new logos and uniforms which debuted next season in 2001–02.
Street courts
Street Legends Courts
Reception
The game received "favorable" reviews on both platforms according to video game review aggregator Metacritic. In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 31 out of 40 for the PS2 version, and 30 out of 40 for the GameCube version.
With the success of the NBA Street series, EA Sports BIG expanded to the format to football with NFL Street and soccer with FIFA Street.